Gone Troppo
Encyclopedia
Gone Troppo is an album
by George Harrison
recorded and released in 1982. It would prove to be Harrison's last studio album for five years, wherein he would largely take an extended leave of absence from his recording career, with only the occasional soundtrack recording surfacing.
By 1980, Harrison had been finding the current musical climate alienating. His commercial appeal had dwindled, with 1981's Somewhere in England
failing to go gold (despite featuring the John Lennon
tribute hit, "All Those Years Ago
"). With one album left on his current recording contract, Harrison decided to get it over with and recorded Gone Troppo (an Australian slang expression meaning "gone mad/crazy") and released it without participating in any promotion, disenchanted as he was with the state of the music industry.
Gone Troppo - with its busy artwork by friend "Legs" Larry Smith (formerly of Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band) - was considered by most to be a flop, reaching a #108 in the United States and never even touching the United Kingdom charts. It became the worst selling studio album Harrison released.
Three of the songs from Gone Troppo were included on Harrison's Best of Dark Horse 1976–1989 album: "Wake Up My Love," "That's the Way It Goes," and the title track (on CD versions only).
In 2004, Gone Troppo was remastered and reissued both separately and as part of the deluxe box set The Dark Horse Years 1976-1992
on Dark Horse Records
with new distribution by EMI
, adding the bonus track demo version of "Mystical One".
, except where noted.
Gone Troppo was remastered and reissued in 2004 with the bonus track:
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
recorded and released in 1982. It would prove to be Harrison's last studio album for five years, wherein he would largely take an extended leave of absence from his recording career, with only the occasional soundtrack recording surfacing.
By 1980, Harrison had been finding the current musical climate alienating. His commercial appeal had dwindled, with 1981's Somewhere in England
Somewhere in England
Somewhere in England is an album by George Harrison, released in 1981. Recorded as Harrison was becoming increasingly frustrated with the music industry, the album's making was a long one, and witnessed a tragic event in his life.-History:...
failing to go gold (despite featuring the John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
tribute hit, "All Those Years Ago
All Those Years Ago
"All Those Years Ago" is a song written by George Harrison, released as a single from the album Somewhere in England. The song was a personal tribute to former bandmate John Lennon, who was murdered on 8 December 1980...
"). With one album left on his current recording contract, Harrison decided to get it over with and recorded Gone Troppo (an Australian slang expression meaning "gone mad/crazy") and released it without participating in any promotion, disenchanted as he was with the state of the music industry.
Gone Troppo - with its busy artwork by friend "Legs" Larry Smith (formerly of Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band) - was considered by most to be a flop, reaching a #108 in the United States and never even touching the United Kingdom charts. It became the worst selling studio album Harrison released.
Three of the songs from Gone Troppo were included on Harrison's Best of Dark Horse 1976–1989 album: "Wake Up My Love," "That's the Way It Goes," and the title track (on CD versions only).
In 2004, Gone Troppo was remastered and reissued both separately and as part of the deluxe box set The Dark Horse Years 1976-1992
The Dark Horse Years 1976-1992
The Dark Horse Years 1976–1992 is a box set of albums by George Harrison released in 2004. Comprising all of the output on his Dark Horse Records label, the set encompasses his studio albums from 1976's Thirty Three & 1/3 to 1987's Cloud Nine with bonus tracks, while 1992's Live in Japan features a...
on Dark Horse Records
Dark Horse Records
Dark Horse Records is a record label founded by George Harrison in 1974.-History:Harrison had recorded for EMI under a contract which expired in 1976. All his subsequent recordings were released through Dark Horse Records, starting with Thirty Three & 1/3 in 1976 and ending with Live in Japan in 1992...
with new distribution by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, adding the bonus track demo version of "Mystical One".
Track listing
All songs by George HarrisonGeorge Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
, except where noted.
- "Wake Up My LoveWake Up My Love"Wake Up My Love" is a single by George Harrison. It was the first single pulled from the album Gone Troppo. The single performed better in the US charts than his last single, "Teardrops", but neither song charted in the UK...
" – 3:34 - "That's the Way It Goes" – 3:34
- performed by Joe BrownJoe Brown (singer)Joe Brown, MBE is an English entertainer.He has worked as a rock and roll singer and guitarist for more than five decades. He was a stage and television performer in the late 1950s and a UK recording star in the early 1960s...
on Concert for GeorgeConcert for GeorgeThe Concert for George was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 29 November 2002 as a memorial to George Harrison on the first anniversary of his death. The event was organized by Harrison's widow, Olivia, and son, Dhani, and arranged under the musical direction of Eric Clapton and Jeff Lynne...
as one of few later Harrison's songs
- performed by Joe Brown
- "I Really Love YouI Really Love You"I Really Love You" is a song written by Leroy Swearingen and originally recorded by his Steubenville, Ohio, vocal group called The Stereos in 1961. The record, issued on Cub Records, a subsidiary of MGM Records, reached number 29 on the Billboard Top 40 chart...
" (Leroy Swearingen) – 2:54- A cover of a 1961 U.S. top-40 hit song originally recorded by The StereosThe StereosThe Stereos were an American pop/rock/doo-wop group from Steubenville, Ohio.They began as The Buckeyes around 1955 with members Bruce Robinson and Ronnie Collins, and released two singles on the Cincinnati label Deluxe Records in 1957...
- A cover of a 1961 U.S. top-40 hit song originally recorded by The Stereos
- "Greece" – 3:58
- "Gone Troppo" – 4:25
- "Mystical One" – 3:42
- "Unknown Delight" – 4:16
- "Baby Don't Run Away" – 4:01
- "Dream AwayDream AwayDream Away is a song off of George Harrison's 1982 album Gone Troppo, which was also released as a single . The song was featured in the ending credits of George Harrison's HandMade Films's Time Bandits...
" – 4:29- Appeared in the Terry GilliamTerry GilliamTerrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
film Time BanditsTime BanditsTime Bandits is a 1981 British fantasy film produced and directed by Terry Gilliam.Terry Gilliam wrote the screenplay with fellow Monty Python alumnus Michael Palin, who appears with Shelley Duvall in the small, recurring roles of Vincent and Pansy. The film is one of the most famous of more than...
- Appeared in the Terry Gilliam
- "Circles" – 3:46
- A song originally composed in 1968 and demoed as a possible track for the White AlbumThe Beatles (album)The Beatles is the ninth official album by the English rock group The Beatles, a double album released in 1968. It is also commonly known as "The White Album" as it has no graphics or text other than the band's name embossed on its plain white sleeve.The album was written and recorded during a...
- A song originally composed in 1968 and demoed as a possible track for the White Album
Gone Troppo was remastered and reissued in 2004 with the bonus track:
- "Mystical One" (Demo Version) – 6:02
Personnel
- Dave MattacksDave MattacksDave Mattacks is a rock and folk drummer. Best known for his work with Fairport Convention, Mattacks has also worked both as a session musician, and as a performance artist...
– Drums - Mike Moran – Synthesizer, Keyboards, Synthesizer Bass, Piano
- Sarah Ricor – Background vocals
- Radina Sloan – Background vocals
- Legs Larry Smith – Art Direction, Design
- Henry SpinettiHenry SpinettiHenry Spinetti is a Welsh-born session drummer whose playing has featured on a large number of prominent rock and pop albums. He is the younger brother of the actor, Victor Spinetti.-Career:...
– Drums - Willie WeeksWillie WeeksWillie Weeks is an American bass guitarist. He has gained fame performing with famous musicians in a wide variety of genres. He has been one of the most in-demand session musicians throughout his career. Weeks has also gained notoriety touring with many of rock's heavyweights throughout his career...
– Bass - Pico Pena – Background vocals
- Gary BrookerGary BrookerGary Brooker, MBE, is an English singer, songwriter, pianist and founder of the rock band Procol Harum. Brooker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours on 14 June 2003, in recognition of his charitable services.-Early life:Brooker was born in...
– Synthesizer - Herbie FlowersHerbie FlowersHerbie Flowers is an English musician specialising in bass guitar, double-bass and tuba. He is noted as a member of Blue Mink, T...
– Bass - Jon LordJon LordJonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord is an English composer, pianist and Hammond organ player.Jon Lord, also known as 'Hammond Lord', is a classically trained piano player. He is recognised for his Hammond organ blues-rock sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms...
– Synthesizer - Jim KeltnerJim KeltnerJames Lee "Jim" Keltner is an American drummer known primarily for his session work. He has contributed to the work of many well-known artists...
– Percussion, Drums - Vicki BrownVicki Brown (singer)Vicki Brown was an English pop, rock and contemporary classical singer. She is best known for her membership of both The Vernons Girls and The Breakaways, and as one of the UK's most enduring backing vocalists...
– Background vocals - Ray CooperRay CooperRay Cooper is an English musician. He is a session and road-tour percussionist, and occasional actor, who has worked with several musically diverse bands and artists including George Harrison, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, and Elton John. Cooper is commonly regarded by music fans, critics and fellow...
– Percussion, Fender Rhodes, Effects, Producer, Marimba, Glockenspiel - William "Bill" Greene – Bass vocals, Background vocals
- Alan Jones – Bass
- Neil Larsen – Piano
- Joe BrownJoe Brown (singer)Joe Brown, MBE is an English entertainer.He has worked as a rock and roll singer and guitarist for more than five decades. He was a stage and television performer in the late 1950s and a UK recording star in the early 1960s...
– Background vocals - George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
– Synthesizer, Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals, Marimba, Background vocals, Jaltarang, Producer - Bobby KingBobby KingBobby King is an American gospel-style, R&B and soul singer. He formed a singing duo with Terry Evans in the early 1970s. Since 1973, King has sung on most Ry Cooder albums. He was also the lead backing vocalist in Bruce Springsteen's Human Touch tour band of 1992-93...
– Background vocals - Billy PrestonBilly PrestonWilliam Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
– Organ, Piano, Keyboards, Background vocals, Synthesizer - Syreeta – Background vocals
Chart positions
| Chart (1982) | Position | Weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Norwegian VG-lista VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... Albums Chart (top 40) |
31 | 4 |
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
108 | 7 |